Teapot



L. NOLTE Nov. 1, 1938.

TEAPOT Filed 'Aug. 11, 1937 Inventor: 1 Ludwig NoPce, EJMZ Hi Attorney.

Patented Nov. 1, 1938 PATENT OFFICE TEAPOT Ludwig Nolte, Nuremberg, Germany,

assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of N ew=York Application August-11, 1937, Serial No. 158,571 In Germany September 11, 1936 3 Claims.

This invention relates to teapots and the like, and it has for its object the provision of an improved device of this character.

While this inventionhas more general application, it is particularly adapted toxteapots having steeping vessels made of a ceramic material.

In certain of the teapots of this character heretofore used the heating element was fitted in the bottom of the vessel. This necessitated a vessel having a. relatively fixed bottom in order to avoid danger of breaking due to heat stresses. This reduced the efliciency of the heating element.

In order to improve the efficiency it was proposed to make the bottom of the vessel of metal but this had the disadvantage that it 'was rather diflicult to obtain a liquid-tight joint between the metallic bottom and the ceramic top of the,

vessel. 7 I

In accordance with this invention, the teapot is provided with an immersion steeping vessel which is formed entirely of porcelain. It is to be understood, however, that it may also be formed of metal if the latter material be desired. Arranged within the steeping vessel is an immersion heating device, and also a tea strainer. These members are supported so that they may be adjusted independently of each other to difierent depths of immersion within-the steeping vessel. Preferably, the heating element will be mounted on a suitable support that in turn is mounted in the lid of the steeping vessel; the strainer also will be.

mounted on the support, but will be so arranged that it can be adjusted independently of the heating unit.

steeping vessel I made of a suitable ceramic material. The steeping vessel I0 is provided with a pouring spout II and a handle l2. It is also' provided with a lid l3 which of porcelain or metal.

A suitable immersion heating device I4 is armay be made either ranged to be inserted into the steeping vessel Ill.

The heating element l4 may be of any suitable construction, the details of which form no part of this invention. Briefly, however, it will comprise a suitable resistance conductor I5 which is supported in a casing l6 and which will be insulated from the casing in any suitable manner.

The heating element I4 is mounted upon a suitable rod-like supporting member H which is inserted through an aperture provided for it in the lid I3, as shown. Preferably, suitable electrical supply leads l8. for the resistance conductor will be directed. upwardly through the support I! to 5 thetop thereof where a suitable terminal plug- I9 is located. As shown, an electrical supply lead 20 enters this plug.

The support I! is adjustably mounted in the lid l3 so as to vary the depth of immersion of the 10 heating element l4 by means of a suitable collar 2i surrounding the support and adapted to bear upon the surface of the lid I3, asshown. The collar 2| is secured to the support I] by means of a' set screw 22. It will be observed that the position of thesupport with reference to the steeping vessel may be adjusted merely by varying the position of thecollar 2| on the support.

Surrounding the heating element I4 is a circular tea strainer 23 which, as shown, has an annular chamber 24 for receiving the tea or other substance to be steeped. The strainer is closed by a lid 25., The inner and outer Walls as Well as the bottom wall of the chamber and the lid are provided with a plurality of apertures 26 permit ting the water to circulate freely through the chamber.

The lid 25 is secured to the support IT by means of a pair of chains 21, which as shown are di- -rected upwardly through spaced apertures 28 30,

provided in the lid, and at their upper ends are arranged to be fastened onto hooks 29 secured to the plug Hi. It will be understood ,that the lid will have a tight sliding fit with the strainer body 23 so that the lid will support the body'in suspended position below it. Any other suitable fastening means between the lidand the strainer may be provided, such as a screw or bayonet joint (not shown).

Preferably, the strainer 23 will'be provided with 40 a circular stop 30 arranged to engage the upper surface of the heater l4 so that the strainer may not be immersed to a lower depth than the heater.

In the operation of the device it will be understood that water will be placed in the steeping vessel l0 and that its temperature will be raised by means of the immersion heating element M which will be placed to a suitable depth in the water, such as the position it has in the drawing. While the water is being heated the strainer 23 will..be supported in an elevated position above the level of the water by the chains 21. When the water has been heated substantially to the boiling point the heating element will be deenergized by means of a suitable switch (not shown) only the heating element to give a beverage connected in the cord 20, and then thestrainer will be moved down to its position to surround the heating element II, where it is supported by the chains 21, as before. When the strainer 23 has been immersed for a length of time sumcient oi the desired strength, the

support 22 is elevated which operation liitsnot II but also the strainer. WhileI have shown a particular embodiment of'my. invention, it will be understood, of'course, that I do not wish to be'limited thereto since many modifications may be made and I; there- .iore, contemplatev by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure y Letters Patent oi! the United States 'is:

l. A device for making tea and the like comprising a st r ng vessel, an immersion heater and a strainer for the tea within said Vessel adapted to be positioned in concentric relation with each other, means for separately -ad-' justing the positions oi said heater and strainer to diil'erent levels within said steeping vessel, and stop means between said strainer and heat- I ing element preventing adjustment of-said heater to a higher level than said strainer and adjustment of said strainer to a lower level than said heater.

. 2. A device for making tea and the like comprising a steeping vessel having-a lid covering it, a support directed through said lid, a heat ing element on the lower end 01 said support, an

adjustable stop on said support .above said lid adapted to engage the lid to support said heating element atthe desired depth, a strainer inv said vessel, chains attached to said strainer and directed upwardly throughlsaid lid,.-and hooks on said support above the lid adapted to receive the links of said chains to support said strainer.

3. Apparatus for making tea and the like com-z heating element and a stop'on said strainer over .said heating element whereby the latter cannot be withdrawn upwardly through the strainer'to a higher level than the strainer.

,LUDWIG Non'rs, I 

